How Restaurant and Bar Workers Can Protect Themselves From Ongoing Health Risks
Restaurants, bars, and pubs are commonly associated with a social and often tightly-packed atmosphere, posing a considerable risk for the ongoing transmission of viruses like COVID-19.
While many restaurants and watering holes have shifted their business models and introduced unique solutions to reduce the spread of airborne illness, workers including servers, cooks, food handlers, and bartenders must take personal precautions to best protect their well-being.
Protecting Food And Drink Industry Workers From Health Risks
Bars and restaurants will always carry a high risk of spreading illness, and food service staff are the first line of defense for their coworkers and customers.
Our Healthier Workplaces: Guidance for the Restaurant Industry Guidance Document, 2nd edition and Healthier Workplaces: Guidance for the Bar Industry Guidance Document, 2nd edition guides were created alongside leading health and government organizations and borrow from the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advice to give bar and restaurant workers actionable ways to safeguard their health.
The guides discuss the health risks that food service professionals face and practical solutions to keep restaurant and bar staff safe from the spread of illness. Its goal is to help employees know how to protect themselves, with specific guidance on:
How bar and restaurant employees can protect themselves from health risks:
Recommended personal protective equipment for restaurant and bar employees and customers
What to do if you feel the urge to sneeze or cough at a restaurant
Best practices to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 while eating or drinking
Personal hygiene practices and how frequently workers should wash their hands
How bar and restaurant owners can protect their workers and customers from health risks:
Guidance on how to limit the number of customers in the bar or restaurant at one time
Recommended signage to ensure staff and customers are aware of the latest safety protocols
Best practices for managing events like live music or open-mic nights
Proper ventilation practices to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19
Disinfection protocols for menus, bar seating, tables, aprons, towels, and other potentially contaminated surfaces
Download our Healthier Workplaces: Guidance for the Restaurant Industry Guidance Document, 2nd edition and Healthier Workplaces: Guidance for the Bar Industry Guidance Document, 2nd edition guidelines to learn proven strategies that protect restaurant workers and their customers.
Additional Restaurant and Bar Safety Resources
To access more help and resources to understand and avoid the health risks of restaurant and bar work, we recommend you explore the following resources and networks.
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